Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

By JON MINIFIE

(Herald rating: * * * * *)

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic is a huge role-playing adventure that lets you create a character and explore a vast, living-breathing Star Wars universe. For this RPG Lucas Arts teamed up with Canadian developers Bioware Corp, who were behind the enchanting Neverwinter Nights, one of last year's top PC titles.

The story takes place 4000 years before the Star Wars films. Because of this, Bioware Corp were given a good deal more artistic licence than most and they have run with it, creating numerous beautiful worlds, each with stunning architecture and eccentric Star Wars creatures.

The story has numerous twists and turns, branching wildly into smaller, peripheral missions or side-quests but essentially, you are out to save the galaxy from an evil Sith Lord.

There are countless characters to interact with, most of them alien and not all friendly. Players have a variety of weapons, from swords and basic blasters to fancy double-ended lightsabers. All weapons (and similar items) can be collected, bought, sold and upgraded.

The game's combat sequences are mercifully easy to control, and not strictly turn-based like so many RPGs. Players only control one character at a time but the others can be scripted to back you up, and who better to watch your back than a Jedi or a Wookie?

A smart Jedi knows violence is not always the answer. You can talk to most of the characters you meet and although twitchy gamers might find wading through speech options tiresome, the absorbing story is well worth it, especially if you're any kind of enthusiast.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic is a single-player RPG but you won't have to play alone for long. Up to nine characters will join your party (unless you accidentally kill one of them as I did) during the game, although you can only go walkabout with three at a time.

As your party grows, you obtain a ship known as the Ebon Hawk. Obviously the forerunner to the Millennium Falcon, it is fast for a piece of junk and will serve as your base as you visit Tatooine, Dantooine, Manaan, Kashyyyk (home of the Wookies) and other planets. Once you have the ship, you're pretty much free to fly wherever you please.

Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic on the Xbox is a landmark title. I would rank it among the best games this year. The Xbox version is in stores today with the PC version to follow later in the year.

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Price $99.95